Google has announced plans to restrict students in schools that prohibit artificial intelligence (AI) from accessing its search engine and other AI-powered educational services.
The technology company disclosed the new policy on Tuesday, November 3, explaining that Google Search and its AI products will be disabled by default for students using school-managed K-12 accounts unless school administrators give approval for their use.
The affected services include Google’s Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search. According to Chris Phillips, Google’s Vice President and General Manager of Education, schools will have the authority to decide which of the services their students can access.
Phillips explained in a blog post that administrators could activate one, two or all three AI services, depending on their school’s policies.
He also told The New York Times that students in schools that completely prohibit AI tools would lose access to Google Search and receive a notification explaining that the service is unavailable because of their school’s restrictions.
Google said the decision was designed to give educational institutions greater control over how technology and artificial intelligence are introduced into classrooms.
However, the announcement has generated criticism from education advocates and raised concerns about the influence of major technology companies on public education.
The development comes amid growing calls from parents, educators and policymakers for stricter regulations on screen time and AI usage in schools. Critics have expressed concerns that excessive reliance on artificial intelligence could affect students’ ability to think independently, develop essential learning skills and interact safely with technology.
Reacting to Google’s announcement, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani accused the company of using its market dominance to push artificial intelligence into public schools.
In a statement shared on social media, Mamdani described the move as an attempt by Google to use its monopoly power to influence how schools adopt AI technology.
He argued that private technology companies should not determine how children are educated, stressing that public schools should prioritise students’ interests rather than the commercial objectives of major technology firms.
The controversy is expected to intensify discussions about the role of artificial intelligence in education, particularly as schools and governments continue to develop policies on the use of emerging technologies in classrooms.
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